Arne Slot missing key Liverpool partnership that can unlock Florian Wirtz from struggles

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Liverpool Echo IconSportFootballLiverpool FCRyan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister were key figures in Liverpool's Premier League title success but the pairing has rarely been seen so far this seasonThere are more than a few contributory factors to Liverpool's stuttering - at least in terms of performance level - start to the season. Chief among those is the difficulty introducing so many new players into a team for which consistency of selection was the bedrock on which their Premier League title triumph was built last term.But it's the lack of presence of one of the most successful partnerships not only with the Reds but the entire top flight that is also hurting Arne Slot's new-look team.Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister formed such a powerful union at the base of the Liverpool midfield throughout 2024/25 that both were nominated for individual gongs, Mac Allister on the shortlist for the PFA Player of the Year award won by Mohamed Salah while Gravenberch was named Premier League Young Player of the Year.READ MORE: Arne Slot about to drop hint over two Liverpool players amid Marc Guehi intrigueREAD MORE: Marc Guehi opens up on what happened after failed £35m Liverpool transferHowever, Tuesday's Champions League defeat at Galatasaray was indicative of how matters have gone for the duo for much of the past six months.Both featured in Istanbul, but by the time Mac Allister was brought on from the bench, Gravenberch had already departed after 62 minutes - the earliest time he had been substituted since the 2-2 draw at Everton in February.Gravenberch missed the first two games of the season, given special leave for the Community Shield loss to Crystal Palace and suspended for the Premier League opener at home to Bournemouth.The real issue, though, has been Mac Allister.

Having been hampered by injury during the second half of last season, the Argentina international has had the issue managed through rest and recuperation rather than any surgery.And the stop-start nature of his playing time means his game has suffered as a consequence, well off the pace during his cameo in Turkey and similarly below par when starting at Crystal Palace four days earlier.Gravenberch and Mac Allister have only been in tandem fleetingly of late. Since Liverpool claimed the championship by beating Tottenham Hotspur at the end of April, the duo have started only four games together.The amount of time the duo has been on the pitch at the same time has been a miserly 264 minutes - not even three full matches.

Last season, before the title was won, they failed to start only four of 34 league games together.It has also perhaps been a reason for Florian Wirtz not quite being able to fully express himself in the number 10 role given the constant rotation behind him, only once Liverpool sticking to the same defensive midfield partnership in consecutive games where the Germany international has featured.With Mac Allister struggling for sharpness and both Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones pressing hard for a start in midfield at Stamford Bridge, there's no guarantee on form that last term's established pairing will be back together in the engine room on Saturday.Slot, however, knows the sooner he can seriously consider the option, the stronger his hand will be. The pairing is being missed.